Monday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meeting at Catterick on 12 February 2024.
CATTERICK
Race 1 – SPEED DAVIS 13/10
SPEED DAVIS looked fairly useful when winning a bumper at the second attempt for Donald McCain and he can make the perfect start over timber in the Download The Raceday Ready App Maiden Hurdle at Catterick.
Having won a point-to-point there were high hopes for him when he headed to Kelso for his debut last April.
However, despite being sent off the 2/1 favourite he could finish only sixth.
Given plenty of time to get over that he did not run again until Sedgefield in January where he looked a different proposition, easily winning by five lengths.
Given he is six it is no surprise McCain wants to get him started over hurdles despite being at this stage of the season and he should handle the ground no problem.
Race 3 – TAP N GO LEO 8/11
TAP N GO LEO should bring success for Jonjo O’Neill in the BBC Make A Difference Awards Maiden Hurdle.
Last time out he showed plenty of promise when finishing third on his hurdling debut.
He has won one out of his three career outings so far and is rarely far away, so he could be tough to beat if there is improvement as expected.
Race 4 – VAL DANCER 23/20
VAL DANCER form has worked out well suggesting the hat-trick beckons in the Jumping For Joy On Racing TV Novices’ Handicap Chase.
Having won at Leicester by 16 lengths, he was raised 8lb but that was nowhere nearly enough as he comfortably accounted for Shighness at Wetherby.
That one has since come out and won at Catterick off 3lb higher so even though Val Dancer has been raised another 7lb, he is clearly progressing quickly.
Race 6 – OMAR MARETTI 15/8
OMAR MARETTI ran better than his finishing position suggested last time and merits respect in the Racing TV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap Chase.
After a couple of hurdles spins, Alex Hales sent the 10-year-old back over fences at Haydock where upped to an extended three and a half miles, he just did not appear to stay on very testing ground.
Hales moves back to three miles now and Omar Maretti could have things in his favour to snap a two-year losing streak.
